Homebrewed Nikon D90 lens is a fish-eyed theft deterrent
By Vladislav Savov 
posted Jul 10th 2009 7:31AM
posted Jul 10th 2009 7:31AM
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I suppose if you want to go for that "Truman Show Look" with your pictures...
He ran out of money after buying the camera. (need lenses, damn it)
why, yes, that IS the point of a fish-eye lens. were you trying to make a point?
THE CHROMATIC ABBERATIONS THEY BURRRRRRRN!!!
That's the worst contraption I've ever seen. How has this made it on to one of the best gadget blogs?
What's the point in having a camera like that if you're going to reduce the quality of the shot by using a 'lens' like that?
The quality might be poor, but that guy has the right idea. I mean, most of us have spare kit lenses that we don't use, why not put those to use and have some fun?
The images this rig produces are junk. You get what you pay for. This is $16 lens that isn't worth a dollar. Don't waist your time.
$1200 camera with a $16 lense??? WTF...seriously? This reminds me of when Reter (family guy) cut a cardboard box to make a "tv"
Reter??? Peter
Did you use this guy's lens to read the post???
Also available: Photoshop
Does Photoshop not take the whole purpose of fish eye away? The point is to get a super wide angle, that's why it's used in doors and some CCTV. It's pointless to put that effect on a normal shot.
No photoshop wouldn't take anything away, it would be the opposite!. Even the kit lens will have a larger field of vision than this pile and would result in a superior fish eye picture after photoshop. Remember Fisheyes are for extreme Field of vision and this little one in a configuration on a regular camera lens would actually be quite limited.
You want to do it for as little monies as possible? Try the GIMP.
This instructable is an epic waste of time and effort since it turns a regular camera into a sub megapixel camera with a bad lens.
What the modder here has accomplished is no better than what Photoshop could achieve with the same shot sans peep-hole. Notice in the read link how little of the actual frame is covered by the actual peep-hole? This means you're effectively cropping a ton and THEN applying a fisheye effect. You're likely not getting ANY decrease in focal length, and you're wasting a TON of your sensor data... all for an effect that could be better achieved completely free in software. There are also tons of cheap screw-on fisheye adapters on ebay that would do infinitely better than this approach if you didn't want to pony up for a true fisheye lens. The peep-hole fisheye can be fun and semi-useful on point & shoots with smaller optics/sensors, but throwing away 90% of your sensor data on a dSLR when you could do better in software is a waste of scrap wood and duct tape.
After looking at the photo gallery, its apparent that the stock lens takes wider images than this.
unfortunately, Photoshop, Gimp, and other photo-altering programs have taken the skill and ingenuity out of photography. Any d-bag with a $200 Elph can shoot a load of crap in the field, then sit behind a desk for hours and fix white balance, chroma, depth of field, change to black&white, and add fisheye and panorama effects. Try learning how to SHOOT pictures instead of how to FIX pictures.
I salute this mod! It's time we go back to being creative, instead of just "fixing it in post"
It's kinda cool, much cheaper than an actual fish eye lens, but I wouldn't sacrifice a lens hood for it. Always use your lens hoods kids, there may not be any cross light, but they certainly can protect against people bumping into you.
I absolutely guarantee that not only will your images be dull as crap, as the glass is just standard glass and not optical or coated glass, but that you'll have some of the worst chromatic aberration you've ever imagined. Why would you buy a D90 and put this (Quite obviosuly a door's peephole) on the end of it? Do you realize that you bought a D90? Why didn't you just do this with your Cybershot?
Stay away from my D300, you fool.
He didn't take any upclose pictures of animals...with funny hats.
Besides the obvious optical issues, for chrissakes get some black gaffer's tape!
Sorry - but why the Nikon? Would have been far more impressive if he'd just attached the 'lens' to a mobile phone camera.
Hmm... might just do that as it goes.
Is this all it takes to make it on an Engadget post??
Now...what can I duct tape to what and call it ingenious?
Aw Engadget, you publish such cool stuff that is actually useful or funny. This is just pathetic. I can't believe that Instructables (normally an excellent place to find cool DIY stuff) would even allow this to be published. No say it ain't so Joe.
All this thing does is make your picture round and adds a ton of barrel distortion. It does not increase the field of view. A true fish eye lens has at least 180 degree angle of view - some actually see a little bit behind themselves. No way does this piece 'o junk see 180 degrees. In fact there are fish eye lenses that do not make that circle image.
Like others have said, it's simple to apply this effect to any picture using photoshop. And you don't have to put a piece of junk glass on the front of your lens.
Aw I'm so disappointed in this post.
That adapter would make an awesome series- unusual things seen through a peep hole.
Who cares about chromatic abrasions all that. It adds to the photo. Step out the box, put down your HDR and try something new. Go buy a Diana or a Holga. My Diana is still my favorite camera.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/bryphotoguy/front.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/bryphotoguy/rocket.jpg
For something like this, yes. A stylized/themed set of pics, sure. But its definitely not a fisheye lens.
This is NOT a fisheye by any stretch of the imagination.
That's why I called it an adapter and not a fisheye lens.
Now use a body cap and mount the peep hole thing to it, yes, it would be a fisheye lens.
The title of this post is inaccurate. There is no such thing as a D90 lens. The title should read "Homebrewed lens on a Nikon D90 is a fish-eyed theft deterrent".
You'd think he could have spent the $5 on a extra lens cap and used that to attach it to his lens instead of having all the gunky duct tape.
duct tape on new camera = idiot
did... did you even read the article?
he duct taped it onto a lens hood.... you do know what those are right?
Yeah, He wasted a perfectly good lens hood that is likely a $30-50 part and is infinitely more useful and better to have than this gimmicky thing...
He coulda ponied up $20-40 on one of those cheapo fisheye screw in lenses, They at least produce a decent image, not as good as a dedicated fisheye, but they're a lot better than this
You can't afford a real fish eye lens, but you can afford a $1000 plus camera?
Just because someone has 1k to spend on something doesn't mean they have another 1k ready to go to buy something else.
By that logic, if you've already spent 2k, you must have another 2k to spend. Right?
RE-TARD-ED
where are the pictures?????
Typical Nikon fanboi stupidity.
When I see those ugly results, I'm pretty sure it should be best to take multiple shots and compose them with a great "pano" software.
Instructable
Nice idea, but needs improvement...
Of all camera themed DIYs, this one's my fave: http://photocritic.org/macro-photography-on-a-budget/
Don't know if it made it on Engadget though...
Sure, but does it have blue LEDs and a USB hub?